SUVA...We got a 2003 bad experience about FIJI's main city when we stop during our circum navigation; this is a very wet place and the harbour is full of wrecks and decaying vessels ready to drift if wind change...This happened in 2003 n some cruisers damaged their boats in the mud during a short squall, n this was going to happen again a month after our present 2018 stop.

Few cruisers choice Suva to enter FIJI; many prefer drier Lautuka or more friendly Savu Savu. The "Royal" Suva yacht club, despite nice staff is not helping to change the situation with desuet infrastructures and poor dinghy dock and not a lot of respect from officials: a cruiser here has poor chance to pass in front of commercial boats arrived the same day for the entry formalities and overall Suva is really one of the rainiest place in all country.

Anyway, our plan is to sail to the Lau Group from south to North, starting by famous FULAGA island and SUVA is much better located regarding opportunity o get an unusual but very well predicted  west wind.

With open mind, you can find positives points in SUVA: The huge market, and everything you can find in FIJI nearby; It's also rewarding to see the apparent  happy and safe life of the place without help of "white man" : a true living melting pot from the tiny delicate fiji-indian lady to the huge guy designed for a selection in the national rugby word champion (7) team, with the arms like my legs, n I was myself a rugby player...

You can't visit any remote Fiji place without offering the famous kava for the traditional "Sevu Sevu" ceremony; this is a real budget to buy the precious roots but that is the way it is here;  Fijian are very proud of their culture n each visitor should understand that. After all getting free access to the ressources around the anchorage deserve a gift; no pain to imagine wich one... Kava is universal in thee islands !

SUVA's fequent sky

One of the permanent neighbourgs in Suva anchorage

"Green path" to the custom office...

Chinese influence ?

Indian taste,

Foe a cruiser, huge n nearby Suva market offer the best option  in FIJI :

Including Kava provisioning, just a few cents above Kadavu prices...

"Market's boys"help you for cheap to carry veggies and fruits to the taxi

ALCYONE, cleared with authorities and  full of fresh fruits is now ready to leave for the the Lau group